Tag: Cruise Updates

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise Chaos, Loyalty Shake-Ups & the End of P&O | Aussie Cruise News LIVE

by Deb & Matt | Jan 28, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

The 2026 Cruise Live Series officially kicks off! 🚢🎉
This week on Deb & Matt Chat, we’re covering one of the biggest weeks in Australian cruising so far this season — and yes, we were on board for part of it.

Here’s what we’re unpacking LIVE:

✅ Our summer cruising recap
✅ Major loyalty changes with Royal Caribbean Group Points Choice
✅ Anthem of the Seas breaks down – will our next cruise be cancelled?
✅ The end of an era on board the final Aussie classics Cruise
✅ Are we about to hear more about a new Royal Caribbean ship class?

Whether you’re cruising in 2026, loyal to Royal Caribbean, or feeling nostalgic about P&O themed cruises — this one’s for you.

💬 Join the live chat, ask questions, and cruise into 2026 with us.

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🛎 Turn on notifications so you don’t miss future Cruise Lives!

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Black Friday Travel DEALS + This Week’s Cruise Headlines | LIVE with Deb & Matt

by Deb & Matt | Nov 19, 2025 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Join Deb & Matt LIVE for this week’s Let’s Chat About It — packed full of cruise news, travel updates and our favourite Black Friday travel deals!

Here’s what we’re diving into this week:
🚢 Virgin Voyages Black Friday Mega Sale

Virgin releases its lowest fares ever and offers up to 70% off the second sailor, plus bonus bar tabs — one of the biggest promotions they’ve ever run. Great deals on 2024–26 sailings.

🍽️ Carnival Expands Adults-Only Premium Menu

Carnival is expanding its premium dining menus across adults-only sailings, improving entrée quality, dessert options, and elevated specialty offerings.

Carnival Launches New Zero-Alcohol Drinks Package

Carnival unveils a new zero-proof beverage package, but there’s controversy: not all inclusions from the alcoholic packages carry over, meaning guests may still face gaps in value.

Celebrity Cruises 2027–28 Edge-Class Sailings

Celebrity reveals new Australia & New Zealand itineraries aboard Edge-class ships, with prices starting from $200 per night, offering premium experiences at competitive pricing.

PLUS — OUR FAVOURITE BLACK FRIDAY TRAVEL DEALS

Cruises, flights, hotels and travel tech we actually recommend — with real value, not gimmicks.

#CruiseNews #DebAndMattChat #CruisingAustralia #CruiseVloggers #CruiseCommunity #BlackFridayDeals #CruiseSales #VirginVoyages #CarnivalCruise #PrincessCruises #CelebrityCruises

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: ⚓ LIVE: Cruise News, Ship Updates & What’s Coming Next!

by Deb & Matt | Nov 12, 2025 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Grab a drink and join Deb & Matt LIVE for this week’s “Let’s Chat About It” — your place for cruise news, updates, rumours and fun!
(Note the slightly later start time this week)

This week we’ll dive into the latest stories from the world of cruising, plus a few surprises along the way. Expect:
⚓ Cruise line announcements & ship updates
🛳️ Port news and itinerary changes
🎬 Viewer questions and cruise stories
🎁 Maybe even a laugh or two (and Matt’s weekly cruise joke!)

Whether you’re Team Royal, Carnival, Princess, or just love to sail — you’ll feel right at home here.

🕖 Live: Wednesday 715PM Brisbane / 815PM Sydney
🎥 Channel: Deb & Matt Chat

#CruiseNews #DebAndMattChat #CruisingAustralia #CruiseVloggers #CruiseCommunity

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: ⚓ Breaking Cruise Updates: Viking Cancels Newcastle, Coral Adventurer Under Investigation & More!

by Deb & Matt | Nov 5, 2025 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Join Deb & Matt LIVE as we dive into this week’s massive cruise headlines from across Australia and beyond!

💥 This Week’s Top Cruise Stories:
🇸🇬 Singapore Cruise Hub Upgrade — The Marina Bay Cruise Centre has completed a major upgrade, strengthening Singapore’s position as Asia’s leading cruise hub and enhancing passenger flow, berthing capacity, and terminal efficiency

😔 Coral Adventurer Investigation — The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Queensland Police are investigating after a tragic passenger death during a shore excursion hike on Lizard Island. The ship remains docked as inquiries continue

✋ Viking Cancels Newcastle Call — Viking Cruises has cancelled its second scheduled visit to Newcastle, citing safety concerns linked to Rising Tide climate protests, disrupting local tourism plans

🌟 Star Princess Update — A celebrity couple has been announced as godparents of the Star Princess, ahead of her highly anticipated debut, symbolising the ship’s blend of elegance, innovation, and Hollywood sparkle

🌟 Disney Destiny Christening Ceremony Live Stream Scheduled for November 10th at 6:30PM

🎥 Plus — your comments, cruise tips, and LIVE viewer chat from 7PM Brisbane / 8PM Sydney!

#CruiseNews #DebAndMattChat #CruisingAustralia #CruiseVloggers #VikingCruises #CoralExpeditions #PrincessCruises #SingaporeCruise

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: 🚢 MASSIVE Cruise News! Carnival’s 2027-28 Upgrades + Royal Caribbean Loyalty Shake-Up!

by Deb & Matt | Oct 29, 2025 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Join Deb & Matt LIVE as we dive into massive cruise news that’s rocking the Australian cruise scene!

🚢 CARNIVAL AUSTRALIA just dropped their 2027–2028 cruise season, including:
• Brand-new homeports in Auckland & Adelaide
• More sailings from Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane
• Over 200 cruises to 39 destinations across the South Pacific, Asia, and beyond

⚓ ROYAL CARIBBEAN announced a HUGE update to its loyalty program, giving cruisers even more reasons to stay loyal — plus, the Status Match program continues across all Royal Caribbean Group brands!

🎉 PLUS — Deb & Matt are about to set sail on Anthem of the Seas this weekend from Sydney to Eden — her first-ever Australian voyage!

Join the live chat, ask questions, and be part of the cruise community!
🕖 7PM Brisbane | 8PM Sydney

It’s Wednesday and that means it is time to chat about all things cruise and travel. See you tonight!

This week we will be getting cruise ready with Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas about to arrive for her first season in Australia. Plus we will be covering all the latest cruise news and getting cruise ready as we sail again in just a few days.

#CruiseNews #DebAndMattChat #CarnivalCruise #RoyalCaribbean #AnthemoftheSeas

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Exciting Updates: Carnival’s Cruise Plans For The P&O Australia Fleet!

by Deb & Matt | Jan 17, 2025 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Are you ready for the big changes as P&O Cruises Australia transitions to Carnival Cruise Line? 🎉 In this video, we tour Pacific Encounter and break down everything you need to know about the March 2025 changeover.

From what’s staying the same—like your favourite specialty dining options and iconic entertainment—to the exciting new additions like free pizza, Carnival’s Fun Squad, new theme nights, and expanded youth programs, we’ve got you covered.

Join us as we explore what these changes mean for Aussie cruisers and how Carnival is bringing their signature fun to the P&O fleet. 🚢

Highlights include:
✅ What’s staying the same: Dragon Lady, Angelo’s, Luke’s Bar & Grill, and more!
✅ What’s changing: Carnival’s Fun Squad, 80s Rock and Glow Party, Sensory-friendly spaces for kids, and more.
✅ Exciting new programs: Free pizza daily, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and more youth activities!

Let us know in the comments what you think about these changes and if you’re excited to cruise Carnival styl
👍 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE!
Your support helps us continue to bring you more fantastic cruise content. 🚢💕
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You can also follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/debandmattchat/
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https://www.instagram.com/debandmattchat
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Checkout out some other videos

📽️ Carnival Splendor Embarkation
https://youtu.be/VR46kZ9hP9E

📽️ Back to Back for New Years
https://youtu.be/2VfDSeE2H-Y

📽️ Cruise And Travel Hacks Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPUerYdynBrL8DEKjn6FcNyd9Kd_QcTVZ

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CHAPTERS
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0:00 What is Changing
0:20 Change 1 – Byron Beach Club
0:57 Change 2 – Adventure Edge Park
1:34 Change 3 – Fun Squad
2:17 Change 4 – Camp Ocean
2:55 Change 6 – Blanc de Blank uncorked
3:16 Change 7 – Theme nights
3:47 Change 8 – Dining
4:28 Change 9 – Free Pizza
5:08 Change 10 – Build-a-Bear
5:20 Change 11 – Conga for Kids
5:48 Change 12 – KultureCity training for Sensory needs
6:18 Wrap up

#cruise #cruisevlog #cruisetips #cruiseadvice #cruisehacks #travel #travelcouple #cruiselife #traveladvice #travelhints

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Australian Cruising Future After P&O Shutdown

by Deb & Matt | Jun 4, 2024 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Join Matt from Deb & Matt Chat as he delves into the significant news shaking the Australian cruise industry. P&O Cruises Australia is set to shut down, marking the end of its iconic presence down under. In this detailed analysis, we explore what this means for cruisers and the future landscape of cruising in Australia and New Zealand.

🚢 “The Future of Cruising Down Under: Navigating Post-P&O Australia” 🚢

In this video, Matt discusses the recent announcement from Carnival Corporation about the closure of P&O Cruises Australia and the rebranding of its ships. This decision will see the Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure transform into the Carnival Adventurer and Carnival Encounter, while the beloved Pacific Explorer will be retired.

👇 What we cover in this video:

👉Background Information: Quick overview of P&O Cruises Australia’s history and its impact on Australian tourism.
👉Reasons for the Closure: Insights into why Carnival Cruise Lines decided to shut down the P&O brand, focusing on regulatory issues, economic factors, and strategic business decisions.
👉Implications for Cruisers: What the rebranding means for existing bookings, loyalty programs, and future cruise options in the region.
👉Future of Australian Cruising: Discussion on how other cruise lines might fill the void left by P&O Australia, potential changes in market dynamics, and predictions for cruise pricing.
👉Matt also includes insights from industry interviews and articles, offering a well-rounded perspective on the changes and their broader impacts.

👍 If you’re interested in the latest cruise news and want to stay informed about changes in the cruise industry, make sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and TURN ON notifications for Deb & Matt Chat!

#CruiseNews #POAustralia #AustralianCruising #CarnivalCruiseLine #CruiseIndustry #TravelUpdates #DebAndMattChat #CruiseVlog #CruiseTips #PacificExplorer #CruiseShipNews

👍 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE if you enjoy our relaxing spa adventure! Your support helps us continue to bring you more fantastic cruise content. 🚢💕

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You can also follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/debandmattchat/ & https://www.instagram.com/debandmattchat

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The livestream where we dicussed this can be found here
https://youtube.com/live/7HYzkuqGah0?feature=share

Read the exclusive interview at cruisepassenger.com.au
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/news/po-australia-to-merge-into-carnival/

==========
CHAPTERS
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0:00 P&O Australia Sunset
0:39 Rebranding the Ships
1:16 Exclusive Interview – cruisepassenger.com.au
1:53 Why the change
3:08 The Fun Ship history
5:48 Market Size
6:45 Changes & Benefits
8:18 Big loss for New Zealand and South & Western Australia
9:10 Market Capacity Reduction
9:58 Prices to increase
11:24 What others are saying
12:10 Outro